Help

Newsletter

Jaguars Insider: New LB coach Robert Saleh eager to work with Paul Posluszny

New Jaguars linebackers coach Robert Saleh arrived in town Wednesday to get caught up to the rest of the staff, but he had time to chat on Friday about his move from Seattle. Here are some of the highlights that didn’t make Saturday’s story:

■ Saleh has watched some Jaguars tape and is excited to work with middle linebacker Paul Posluszny.

“I’ve heard his personality is awesome, and watching him on tape, I don’t understand how he doesn’t get tired because he just goes up and down the football field,” he said. “His leadership and the standard he’s created for himself can only help the [linebacker] room and elevate everybody else around him.”

■ Saleh first met Gus Bradley while interviewing for a Seattle staff opening in early 2011.

“My first impression was, ‘No way can a guy be this happy. No freaking way,’ ” Saleh said. “He walked in, and his smile took over the whole room.”

■ Saleh and Bradley would meet at 7 a.m. before each Seattle home game.

“He would have these life talks with me while going over his call sheet. I don’t know if he realizes the impact those have had in my life. Those were life lessons I still hold on to.”

■ Bradley was modest during the playoffs when asked about his role in building Seattle’s now Super Bowl-winning defense.

But Saleh said: “It’s hard to lose a coordinator of Gus’ status. We had some tweaks, but all of the initial stuff he installed, a ton of it carried over. Gus’ stamp was still on it — the way we taught things, the way certain schemes we played.”

■ One word Bradley used when describing his time with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll was “focus” — his philosophy crystallized. Saleh used the same word. “Being able to learn under Pete and getting in touch with who I am and what my focus is — it really kicked in the last three years,” he said. “He challenged you to create a philosophy — what are you about? — and then get it on paper to lock in on it and focus on it.”

■ Saleh scouted the Jaguars before they lost 45-17 at Seattle in Week 3.

“I’ll say this about that Jacksonville team: They played hard, and they didn’t quit, even if the score was out of hand early in the year,” he said.

■ Saleh, 35, and his wife, Sanaa, have three sons, ages 3, 2 and 2 months. “My wife is a superstar — a superwoman,” he said.

Second year different

One of the players spotted at the stadium on Friday was left tackle Luke Joeckel, who missed the final 11 games after breaking his ankle.

Last month at the Senior Bowl, I asked offensive line coach George Yarno if Joeckel would have to start over when the offseason program begins in late April.

Speaking in a generality, Yarno said: “You do, but you grow much faster because they’ve heard it all before and understand what we’re trying to do. It’s a review, and you hit the ground running instead of walking. Obviously, we’ll have some new guys, so you have to move at a pace so they can catch up to the guys who have heard it before. But they’ll learn faster because the other guys know what’s going on, and they can ask them questions.”

Those new guys could include starters at left guard and center.

Three and out

1. Teams have already started the process of cutting veterans for salary cap reasons. Among the veterans on the market are linebackers Stephen Nicholas (Atlanta), Erin Henderson (Minnesota) and Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans), cornerbacks Asante Samuel (Atlanta), Dunta Robinson (Kansas City) and Jabari Greer (New Orleans) and safeties Louis Delmas (Detroit) and Roman Harper (New Orleans). I don’t expect the Jaguars to pursue any of those players because of their age and/or injury histories.

2. If the Jaguars want to make a productive splash on the first day of free agency, what about Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson? He made $11.175 million last year on the franchise tag and posted totals of 3.5 sacks, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles in 922 snaps. The Bengals might not re-sign him because they have money tied up in defensive tackle Geno Atkins and need to save space for receiver A.J. Green’s second contract.

3. Tight end Clay Harbor, who sustained a broken ankle in the Dec. 29 finale at Indianapolis and had surgery, was at EverBank Field on Friday in a walking boot. Harbor (363 snaps played in 2013) becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 11. The Jaguars are expected to keep Marcedes Lewis, but Harbor would be a nice depth option.